Asher's Birthday :: Part 2

We decided to forgo the big party this year and do a simple birthday dinner on a weeknight with all our parents. Which was great because there were no invites to make or mail, no weather to worry about, and no exposure to sick kids. There was, however, a lot of laughing and squealing and screaming. Not just by Asher, either. You put eight adults madlyinlove with the cutestbabyonearth and see what volume you reach. "It goes up to 11." {Bonus points if you know that quote. Serious bonus points.}

I made a super simple dinner of soft tacos, spicy corn, pinto beans and cupcakes (with incredible fugde frosting). All served buffet style. I have no idea why my family didn't do things this way growing up. So fewer dishes! Anyway. Super easy and quick and tasty. 

 {Any "My Name Is Earl" fans? We love the closed-eye picture tradition.}

There are no family photos. I can not believe it! I'm resolving right now to be better about making someone take a picture of Asher with his Mommy and Daddy. Seriously. 

The plan was simple: sit around the table and eat while we watch Asher eat. He always provides good supper-time entertainment and general face messyness. He was definitely entertaining during dinner. The best part was probably after dinner, though. Justin got up and began clearing the dishes (I know, bonus points for him) and when I joined him Asher went to play with his little barn. He loves the music and plays the songs over and over and over again. Well, he played the songs and ran in circles. The entire time we did dishes. At least twenty five circles. He'd stop and dance for a  minute, but then back to running. None of the grandparents took pictures though, so be mad at them, not me. I think we did get some video, so I'll try to check into that soon. And my next post won't have anything to do with Asher's birthday. But it will probably still have something to do with him. Let's just face it. 

Asher's Birthday :: Part 1

You've waited long enough. No more delays. I mentioned here that I'd made about thirty meals. It just so happened that I did that when Justin was out of town. And it was Asher's birthday. Sometimes things just happen that way. Here's how it went down. First, when it's your birthday, I am an advocate of having whatever you want for breakfast. Actually, I feel like this fairly often, but especially on one's birthday. Especially when you're two. So Asher has milk and grapes and donut holes. Actually, this is his first experience with cakey donut holes, but I thought he'd like them and they sounded good to me when we were at Kroger. Don't judge me.

Asher ate his breakfast, we practiced our flash cards and sang happy birthday and I started on this. 

Cajun 16-bean soup. Can you find sixteen different beans? Me either. I only counted twelve. Maybe I'll try again later when we eat some. 

While I souped, Asher played. We're big fans of free play on Saturday mornings around here. I just read an article about how free play is really good for fostering independence. Not that he needs any help in that department. 

I rounded up supplies for all my meals. While it was a lot of work, I am excited to do it again. And it's been so fun to eat things from our freezer. Tonight we're having Santa Fe Chicken Chili and tomorrow Cream Cheese and Spinach stuffed Chicken wrapped in Bacon. Be jealous. 

Asher helped me get out some other things. 

I cooked, he played. He cooked, I played. We cooked. We played. 

We took a break for lunch and wagoning. Asher received a Radio Flyer for Christmas so we wagon often. Elmo was in Asher's good graces that day, so he was offered a wagon ride as well. 

After wagoning, Asher took a nap and I returned to the kitchen. Later that night, Asher went to MeMaw and PawPaw's for dinner and movie. Lucky kid. I was still in the kitchen...

P.S. Asher loves meatballs.

Not Two. Nine. Thirty. Doves. Chili. Song and Dance. Boredom.

Brace yourselves, people. This could be an exhausting post. I have a lot to say.

First things first. TWO. My boy is TWO. It's earth-shattering and mind-numbing and not-a-big-deal all at once. I tried to explain to someone at church the other day that he simply cannot be TWO. We haven't had him that long, we haven't known him that long, wehaventhecan'tthat'sjustthewayitis. We're not having a big party for him this year. Just the grandparents. Secretly I tell myself that if we don't have a birthday party, he hasn't had another birthday and he's not really TWO.

I cooked for NINE hours on Saturday. All by myself. It's not even Thanksgiving y'all. It may have been somewhere around nine hours, minus some time outside with a certain birthday boy and his red wagon and a quick trip for more broccoli, but I made ELEVEN breakfasts and almost THIRTY meals for our family, plus a few to take to our pastor and his wife when their new baby is born.I'm actually blaming Gloria because she's the one who first talked about OAMC and then I thought that sounded fun and then several of my friends were also interested. So I bit off. A lot. Almost more than I can chew. But I did it and I didn't quit and my freezer is pretty full.

I'm also expecting about FORTY doves to arrive any day for me to stuff and wrap with bacon. They will also live in my freezer until we have a dove party. Does anyone even like dove?

We're having a party. In February. We're bringing back the Nell Annual. This time it's a Chili Cookoff. With a prize and everything. Start practicing.

I started doing a little coupon clipping. And while it drives me a little crazy, it also makes me feel so accomplished when my receipt says, "You Saved $39.48" which then makes me do a fun song and dance routine.

Speaking of routines and gallbladders, I'm getting a little bored with this blog. I know, it's not your fault, it's mine. And I'm sorry about that. So I think I might be shaking some things up. I'm not sure how yet, but I know that I used to love blogging and I haven't loved it in a while, because if I loved it I would do it more often.

Speaking of fun, remember last year when we did this? It was so fun. I can't believe it's been a year!

Stirring up baby Jesus

I wanted to write a blog post about something. Anything. But I have too much stuff to do.

I need to throw the clothes into the dryer and start another load.

But I can't do that until I make some more laundry soap. To do that, I need to get out all the ingredients and wash the big bowls I use that Asher has taken over to collect his favorite toys.

What are his favorite toys? A giant jingle bell, the green ring (From the stacking toy), a teether, a pig rubber pig, and baby Jesus (who was promptly evicted from his nativity set to live in the bowl in the bottom drawer in the kitchen). He likes to stir his toys with a big wooden spoon. And I let him. Except it's a little strange to me that he's stirring up baby Jesus.

I'm trying to be encouraged that at least baby Jesus is one of his favorites that gets extra special treatment.

totally behind

Asher started school in November. I know time flies, but don't worry. He's not really in kindergarten or anything. I took these pictures that morning because aren't you supposed to have pictures from your first day of school? Asher didn't think so. : (

Maybe hiding behind the trash can will help. Nope. It doesn't. 

On a side note, while packing his lunch, I was really worried about what he'd eat since their lunch time was way earlier than our normal eating time. Actually, everything about school is way earlier than our normal time. Also, I was concerned that he'd run out of food while other kids were eating and that could be detrimental to the rest of his day. So I packed and packed and packed food for him. 

Lunch includes:

1 peanut butter fold over with extra peanut butter

cheese puffs

1/2 cup yogurt puffs

string cheese

two clementine oranges

5 pretzels

2 animal cookies

water

He ate every bite. 

Also, mornings are much better now. And he likes school. He doesn't always eat that much for lunch. But sometimes he eats even more. : )

ch-ch-ch-cheesecake

For your immediate viewing pleasure, I give you tonight's dinner time enjoyment:

Cheesecake with Grandpa and Mimi.

Mmmmmm.

Pumpkin Patch

I realize it's already November. And the middle of November at that. But I still have four hundred darling pictures of Asher at the Pumpkin Patch so I'm going to post them anyway. Plus, this is my blog so I'll do whatever I want. Betcha didn't see that coming.  Ok, so I realize most of you can't handle the sheer volume of cuteness in four hundred pictures, so I'll only post eight. You can thank me later.

Asher spent most of his time running and jumping on this ramp. It was his favorite part of the whole experience. 

Lest you think our lives are boring...

My adorable little trouble-maker keeps very busy. Busy being adorable. Busy making trouble.

What? You don't believe me?

That's fine. I have plenty of evidence.

On this particular day I'd made some blueberry muffins for a visiting friend. Visiting friend shared muffins with Asher. Visiting friend left. Asher's desire for muffins did not.

"Oh, there's Mom."

"What's she staring at?"

 "I should crawl up on the island so I can reach the others. Yeah. That's a good idea."

"Hmm. This fancy leafy paper by Martha is tasty."

After eating the top off the first muffin, Asher tossed it to the side and lunged for more. One for each hand. That move was less successful.

WHY isn't he a MODEL???

I know we are all asking ourselves this question. And you are always asking me this question. 

I understand. I get it.  He is quite handsome. And charming. Very charming. 

But he is also busy. Very busy. 

21 Months ... 21 Months!!!

Asher,

You are twenty one months now. Well, actually you have been for a couple weeks now. It's so hard to believe how much you've grown and how fast this time has flown. Right now you're sitting in a bar stool next to me eating grapes and string cheese. That's how big you are. Big enough to eat grapes all by yourself and not choke. Even when you shove too many in your mouth at once, which happens quite often. You love to share your food with me. But sometimes if I'm too slow to lean over and get it out of your hand you take it back and shove it in your mouth so fast -- and then you laugh like you've just swindled me and I don't even know it.

You still love hide and seek. You're really good at ducking down under things and you love to scream when you're found. Actually, you love to scream about everything right now. It's very loud and very high pitched. Hide and Seek is especially fun when you think that just by looking away you're hidden. It makes sense though.

You're also a big fan of the water hose. When I water the plants and flowers you run and stand right in the way and get drenched. I love to see you laugh while you do this but I also know we then have to go back inside, towel off, and change clothes, which is slightly less fun.

You love to be in the kitchen, preferably right under my feet or between my legs. Lately you've started hugging one of my legs and it's so sweet. Usually your time in the kitchen is spent in the two big drawers by the stove. You dig out mixing bowls and cake pans and strainers and double boilers and this one heavy LOUD bundt pan (that you are playing with RIGHT now and I already have a headache from it) and one of those rubbery muffin tins. Those rubbery ones are your favorite. You squish the pan down, flip it over and squish it the other way. Sometimes we stir your toys or put them in the muffin tins. You think that is so funny. You also LOVE to crawl up on our bed and mess up all the pillows. I mean, you think you're hiding or being silly, but I think you're just messing it up after I went to all the trouble of making the bed. I still love you because you are so happy when you find yourself successful!

We bought some of those little foam letters and numbers from the bath section at Target and you play with them everywhere. We try to make words but since they are in every room we can only make a few words in each room. In the bath we can only spell bus and jugs. And the number four. You like to hand them out to people and recollect them.

Your Daddy made a giant house for you out of a cardboard box and you hide in it all the time. One day I had to feed you yogurt through one of the windows because you wanted the yogurt AND the house. Who am I not to oblige those sweet brown eyes? Speaking of those eyes, you know how to work them! There is even a cashier that we see weekly who just hangs over the counter and tells you how handsome you are. Every week. Except the week I went without you and I got mean looks and she made me feel like a bad mom for leaving you with your Dad. Sheesh. She is under your spell. It's probably because you say byebye to her one million times and blow her kisses. I'd fall for that, too. You are very liberal with your kisses when you want something ... and other times you tightly hold on to every kiss. You are never stingy when it comes to blowing kisses to yourself in the mirror. I'm a bit worried about your conceit. I mean, we all know you're gorgeous and beautiful and one of God's best creations, but seriously, you don't need to play in front of the mirror all day. We have a full length mirror in our closet and in the entry way and those are your favorite places to play. Lately you've discovered how to make funny faces at yourself. You also like to wave and tell yourself Hi and ByeBye (and of course blow yourself kisses), and see how you look while playing with different toys. (I can't believe I can't find a recent picture of this!!!)

You love playing with the barn that Grandmama gave you for your birthday last year. You love certain songs and play them over and over again. You've started making animal sounds. Your favorites are hoohooheeeheee (monkey), eeeow (cat), heahhh (donkey), and arrrr (lion/tiger/dinosaur). You love when we sing "Old McDonald" because of the sounds and you say e-e-e-e-ooo. (It's so precious.) You've also learned to say Yeehaw when riding the horse at MeMaw and PawPaw's house. You love to slide and slide, climb up the slide and walk down the slide and roll things down the slide.You love to say Mimi and get hung up on saying it over and over and over again.   You always go exploring at Papa's house.

You love airplanes and we stop to point out everyone that flies by as we wave and say "byebye". Your love for bubbles knows no bounds.

We took you to a pumpkin patch last week and you went crazy for the little pumpkins! You picked up one and carried it everywhere. You dropped it, spiked it, rolled it down a ramp, sat with it, ran with it, and you still carry it around the house. You like to carry all sorts of things, especially my big camelback water bottle, which you've finally figured out how to drink from. I think we'll have to get you one of your own that's not hot pink. And a bit more your size.

The world absolutely stops and stands still when your favorite show, Word World is on. We dvr it off PBS so you can watch it on Saturday mornings and snuggle with Daddy on the couch (the only time you sit still). Not even food can steal your attention from this show. You like Veggie Tales too because there's lots of singing, but it doesn't hold your attention as well as Word World. Nothing does.

We joke that you have one speed and it's "there he went". You are always going full speed ahead (although lately you like to go backwards, too!) and at church everyone knows you as Asher the Dasher. You are fast and sneaky. And fearless. You have no fear for anything -- not heights, not pools, not girls, not bigger kids, not stairs, not any of the things that leave me breathless, either from fear or from chasing after you or from both. I hope and pray this translates to your faith. I pray you are fearless when chasing after the Lord.

We love you so much and cannot imagine that anyone else anywhere in the world has as much fun as we do with you. I know that there are one thousand other things I want to tell you and want to remember, but I feel typed out. Besides, you're standing here looking at me and I know you want to play, and if I play my cards right, you might sit in my lap for a snuggle or two and I can steal some of those kisses before you realize I've hit my limit.